The MSc has been accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer by the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). Engineers working to attain Chartered status can now add this programme as part of their portfolio.
MSc Open Day
We are holding an Open Day on 12th March 2008 for the MSc. This will be a chance for you to see the Department, UCL, meet the staff involved and our present students.
If you are interested in attending please contact Ms. Bhupinder Sehra via email: b.sehra@ucl.ac.uk
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Quicklinks:
Introduction
Aims of the MSc Programme
Programme Structure
Programme start and duration
Careers
Admission Requirements
How to Apply
Fees, scholarships and funding
Who to contact for more information
Earthquake engineering is a new, multi-disciplinary and constantly evolving science. Recent events in modern cities (e.g. Northridge 1994, Kobe 1995) have shown the large life and economic losses that can occur as a consequence of bad design and construction. The earthquake in Pakistan (2005) and Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) have also highlighted an increased vulnerability of populations in developing countries due to lack of awareness, lack of hazard considerations in design and land-use planning, and ineffective disaster management. A new type of global earthquake engineer is required that is able to take a holistic approach to earthquake engineering and disaster management.
The NEW MSc in Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management embraces this holistic approach. The programme imparts a combination of specialist earthquake engineering knowledge and an understanding of the social, economic and political impact of earthquake events in order to produce engineers which can provide holistic design solutions and be able to work in both engineering and disaster management roles.
Aims of the MSc Programme:
Graduates of the programme will be able to:
- understand the roles and interactions between seismology, soil dynamics and structural dynamics in the determination of the vulnerability of ordinary and special structures to seismic actions;
- know the underlying principles, limitations and be able to apply both current seismic codes and novel unconventional methodologies of seismic design, repair and assessment;
- understand the national and world wide social, economic and political consequences of earthquake events;
- select and assess the adequacy, economic viability and life saving effectiveness of pre-event risk mitigation and post-event risk management solutions when applied to different contexts.
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Programme Structure:
The MSc consists of 8 taught modules (each worth 15 credits) and a major research project (worth 60 credits) and has been developed (and will be delivered) in collaboration with civil engineering and nuclear industry professionals, disaster managers, re-insurers, academics and non-governmental organisations.
Directed by Professor P. Sammonds, UCL and Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre
The course aims to provide an understanding of the dynamics of the solid Earth from theoretical and observational seismology and seismotectonics in relation to earthquake hazard and mitigation. It provides an in-depth study of earthquake seismology and earthquake hazard
Directed by Dr J. Twigg, Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre
The module aims to improve earthquake engineers’ understanding of disasters and disaster management and to provide them with knowledge and skills to function more effectively as part of wider disaster risk management initiatives.
Collaborators on the module:
Homeless International
ImageCat Inc.
Directed by Dr N. Peiris, RMS, London
Students will gain insight into the practice of geotechnical earthquake engineering from the perspective of a practitioner and learn of the impact of seismic behaviour of soils on the seismic hazard at a site. The seismic design and assessment of foundations and earth structures and their interaction with structure design will also be taught.
Collaborators on this module:
Fugro Limited
Risk Management Solutions
Arup
Directed by Dr P. Greening and Dr P. Duffour, UCL
This module will provide an engineer with the necessary knowledge with which to analyse structures under dynamic excitation using methods of increasing complexity.
Directed by Dr T. Rossetto, UCL and Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre
An overview of how engineers and different agencies assess seismic risk to life, economy, buildings, special structures, geotechnical structures and infrastructure will be given. The course will also deliver an understanding of the uncertainties involved in risk estimation.
Collaborators on this module:
Risk Management Solutions
Air Worldwide Ltd
Ed Booth Consulting
Sellafield Ltd (part of the former British Nuclear Group)
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Dr T. Rossetto, UCL and Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre
Knowledge of materials, structural element and global structural behaviour under seismic loading is imparted. The concepts behind seismic design and how these are represented in different seismic codes of practice are explained and new seismic design methodologies (e.g. displacement- and performance-based) are introduced.
Dr T. Rossetto, UCL and Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre
This course explores the different approaches to seismic risk mitigation. It provides an overview of existing repair and strengthening and base isolation techniques for different classes of buildings and the influence of these on the dynamic properties of the buildings. It also aims to raise awareness of repair and strengthening techniques used for vernacular structures.
This module includes a field trip to the latest location of seismic interest, to investigate, evaluate and critique the risk mitigation techniques employed.
The field trip for the 2007-08 academic year will be in Turkey in collaboration with the Disaster Management Research Center of Middle East Technical University.
Directed by Dr H. Titheridge and Dr P. Duffour, UCL
This module is an introduction to research and will equip students with the skills needed to successfully carry out a research project. Students will be able to create a research plan and conduct a literature survey for their chosen project; thus allowing more time for problem solving and creating innovative solutions during the time allotted for the MSc research project.
This will be an opportunity for the student to produce a real and original contribution to the state-of-the-art in seismic risk mitigation. There is a possibility that this project may be carried out in collaboration with diverse industries involved in the management of disasters, assessment of seismic risks and seismic design. If the final research project is omitted, the programme can lead to the award of a Postgraduate Diploma.
Programme Start and Duration:
The MSc will be launched in September 2007. Full time, this course runs for 1 year. Flexible options are available. A disaster risk management short course is also available as a short course.
Careers
Graduates will be able to work in engineering, risk evaluation and disaster management roles across various sectors of which a few are listed below:
- civil engineering
- nuclear industry
- development agencies
- re-insurance companies
Admission Requirements
The MSc is aimed at those with a Civil Engineering or related degree with a Second Class Honours degree (or higher). Applicants with a different degree but with relevant professional experience will be considered. Applicants from a different but related discipline may take a pre-qualifying year in the department before moving into the MSc programme. This will give the necessary background in fluid, soils, structures and material engineering.
More information on the pre-qualifying year can be found at the following site: Pre-Qualifying year
How to Apply
You can now apply for our Programme online:
The MSc in Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management and the PG Diploma of same programme have now been added to the selection of programmes on the Online Application facility.
Application procedures for post graduate study can be found on the following website:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application-admission
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Fees, scholarships and funding
For fees information please visit:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/tuition-fees
Funding for students:
There are many scholarships and general funding schemes offered to UK, EU and overseas individuals seeking to pursue postgraduate study in the UK. More information on these funding sources can be found on our website:
www.civeng.ucl.ac.uk/teaching/EEDM-Funding.asp
Contacts
For more information on the Programme please contact Bhupinder Sehra, Graduate Development Administrator:
Email: b.sehra@ucl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7679 4428
